SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio — Despite passing a $3.25 million safety forces levy in November, the South Euclid Fire Department will be down three firefighters this year and apply for a $650,000 federal grant to re-staff the department.

The city currently has 30 firefighters, compared to the 33 it typically employs, and another will retire in two weeks, according to Chief Doug Stefko. He said they’ll hire one replacement this summer, but they can’t afford to fill the remaining three openings.

State cuts to the Local Government Fund threatened the department with four layoffs in 2013, but the city found a way to prevent the staffing reduction until voters approved the property tax increase.

“Last year we were dealing with a situation where we needed immediate cash to prevent layoffs which forced the mayor to enter into negotiations with the union on concessions and givebacks,” Benjamin said.

The levy, which costs owners of $100,000 homes about $113 annually, will generate about $600,000 for the fire department in 2014, the majority of which will go toward the department’s pension fund. The police department also benefits from the three-year tax increase, expected to bring in $3.25 million total for both departments.

“I don’t think the safety levy was enough to bring everything back up to full strength, and with the SAFER grant, if we are awarded that, we are looking at $650,000 over two years to supplement the department,” Stefko said.

Anticipating the tax increase would be enough to cover hiring costs, some council members questioned the department’s staffing shortage at a recent budget hearing.

“What I’m hearing is the safety levy won’t allow us to hire three new firefighters,” Councilman Moe Romeo said.

Finance Director James Smith said the safety levy was used to maintain current services, and Councilwoman Ruth Gray asked how the city can maintain services “without adequate staffing.”

Stefko said the department has tweaked its response procedure and will pay firefighters overtime to compensate for the shortage.

The city's preliminary budget allocates $200,000 for overtime wages this year, compared to the $162,000 it spent on overtime in 2013 in case they aren't able to find a replacement for the upcoming retirement.

“Everyone wants to blame the city, but the state is the problem," Benjamin said. "It's the truth so what are we supposed to do? How are we going to maintain services?"

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